Adding color to your home space can be worrisome. What a color looks like on a swatch and what it feels like to live with everyday can be two very different things. Thus, in homes across the country, safe colors are everywhere—what a bore! But, adding color doesn’t have to be a chore. Use our tips for a cheerful space that reflects your unique personality.
1. The 60, 30, 10 Rule
Think 60, 30, 10, in terms of percentages. 60% main color, 30% supporting color and 10% details. In other words, start with the walls, move to the upholstery and then think about accessories.
2. Complementary or Analogous?
Decide if you want to go complementary or analogous. Take a color wheel, for example. Complementary colors exist across the wheel from one another. Rooms decorated in this manner are a bit more formal and present. Analogous colors exist next to each other on a color wheel and provide a more restful presentation.
3. Bring on the Dark
Ground your room by placing darker colors lower so the room doesn’t look lopsided. Adding in one or two black elements is also a way in which experts pull a space together.
4. Picking Pattern Palettes
If you have a patterned piece, work from the colors in that pattern to add drapery or accents. Also, think about the purpose of the space. A bedroom, for example, should be a more restful place whereas a children’s playroom would benefit from contrasting whimsy.
5. Sample
Lastly, always ask for a sample to take home with you. If you can live with the color for a few weeks before you commit to it, you’re less likely to make a mistake.
Images: Blesak.com | Color-Wheel-Artist | BHG.com | BHG.com
